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Thursday, May 1, 2014

Starting From Scratch, Again

So, we are back at Outpatient Rehab working on standing. And I tell you, it's an all too familiar scene, as it seems no matter how far he gets with therapy, he always ends up back here:

Bob standing with therapist

I guess, I should be proud that at least, this time, it didn't take three therapists to hold him up! After standing up four times, for less than 1 minute each, the PT worked with stretching Bob's neck muscles then on "stand and pivot" to transfer Bob from wheelchair to a bed.

The "stand and pivot" was more like a "stand sort of weirdly crouched and have therapist lift Bob onto the bed" but, at least Bob was able to push up from the chair with his hand on the armrest. As the PT said, "you have to start somewhere!" So we'll see what happens. It would be great if Bob could do a "stand and pivot" as that would make my job much easier.

Welcome To Our Pink House

About Me

Bob and I were married 09/16/94. He is my soulmate, the love of my life. Bob is an artist and I am a writer.
On 10/20/10, Bob, following his doctor's advice, underwent a carotid endarterectomy. When I left him in ICU that night, he was fine and I thought in good hands. Two hours after my departure, a nurse noted on his chart that Bob's speech was slurred and his right arm was paralyzed. The nurse did not call a doctor. Later that night, the nurse noted that Bob could not move his right arm or leg, still a doctor was not called. The next morning, the nurse noted that he was paralyzed on the right side, a "12" on the Glasgow Coma Scale, disoriented and confused, but no doctor was informed. I arrived at 9:00 a.m. and immediately called for the doctor. He was rushed to surgery. It was 12 hours too late. The CAT scan showed 2/3 of his brain had been damaged. I was told he would not survive. Somehow, he did.
Bob was discharged from the hospital on 12/31/10 and, although the hospital wanted him sent to a nursing home, I brought him home instead. This is the story of our journey since that day. This is also a love story.
(Bob passed away 5/28/15 and I am trying to survive....)